Suspect Caught in Murder of Vietnamese American Store Owner in San Jose

Detectives were able to track  21-year-old suspect Muniunmee Hendrix in Merced, Ca on Thursday, KTVU reports.

Hendrix is linked to the death of 58-year-old Hieu “Charlie” Ly, who was killed by a gunshot wound during an apparent robbery attempt at his store on Monday night.

Ly was later discovered by responding police officers sprawled on the floor at Jim’s Liquors at 2860 Quimby Rd. at about 10:53 p.m. on Monday. Shortly after, the store owner was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the police, the suspect was able to flee the scene before they arrived so the gunman was not immediately identified and located. He was only tracked eventually after an extensive investigation by the local department’s homicide, gang and burglary units identified Hendrix as the suspect.

Ly, a well-respected man in the community, was commemorated by his friends and family via a vigil on Friday night outside his store in San Jose, California to pay him respects, according to Mercury News.

“Thank you for all your support,” Ly’s daughter-in-law, Jessica Yuen, was quoted as saying during the service. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing beside us during this time and for giving us the strength to keep pushing forward.”

An emotional San Jose resident Edward Villareal was in tears when he spoke about Ly.

“This guy showed me respect and honesty as a man,” Villareal said. “For someone to take his life is brutal to me. How can you take my friend from me?”

Montez said he is still in shock over the death of his friend Ly,

“I think it’s devastating that somebody can just walk in and take the livelihood and the life of somebody who has worked for the American dream,” Montez said. “It’s a very sad society that we live in.”